| Cases- I’ve been seeing many entire female rabbits presented for bloody discharge from the vulva. Most of them are 3 years of age or above without desex. Owners often claim there are puddles of bloody discharge or urine found on the floor. Some of them may mistake that as “menstruation”. (To correct the myth- rabbits do not have menstruation or period as they are induced ovulators) The reason they pass bloody discharge from vulva or in urine is due to uterine tumour which is common in entire female rabbits greater than 3 years of age (~60% to 80%). The youngest rabbit I have seen with uterine cancer is 1.5 years old which has no clinical sign except an incidental finding on routine desex. Depending on the amount of blood passed, if copious amount, it could be life threatening and increase the anaesthetic risk due to anaemia. Uterine cancer has the potential to metastasize to other organs- lungs, liver, brain, eyes etc. Death from metastasis is usually 1-2 years. End stage rabbits show weight loss, reduced to loss of appetite and difficult breathing. It also increases the likelihood of mammary tumour. During physical examination, if the uterine lumps are big enough, I can often palpate in the caudal abdomen nearby the bladder. Some of them may resent palpation and tense up the abdomen. There may be blood stained genital opening. |
